Stuff them with newspaper paper (although some say the ink will clog the GTX) and put them in a warm dry place, but keep them away from 'open' heat sources like heaters, radiators, etc, as this will make the wet leather crack.

I once dried my boots by sticking them under the heat vent in the cab of my truck while driving home from a wet trip. The soles delaminated completely soon after. Moral of the story is to keep them away from any heat source. The newspaper trick works surprisingly well.

Sorry Bruno, its been a long weekend and I am still recovering, thanks

Hey Mike, no just pill them out after about 8-24 hours and the paper should have drawed all of the moisture out of them. Missed you at the fall outing on Al West!

Sorry to have missed the fall outing Steve, by the time I was almost to the trail head it was almost 9:00. I got stoped by highway patrol and had a flat all in the same day thats what I get for hurrying to be on time hope to see you at the next outing or another trip to the hills

Looks like you need to seal your boots with SnoSeal etc. If your boots are absorbing tons of water, they aren't sealed. Yes, wax wears off and you get to reseal your boots quite often. Personally Gore-tex "lined" boots are worthless as the goretex neither keeps the boot dry nor waterproof. Especially when ones feet sweat. Its a marketing ploy as far as i am concerned. Look for boots without the Gore-tex. Cheaper, and just as waterproof if you bother to actually seal your boots like one should always do. Keeps the leather supple so the boot lasts longer. Assuming of course that your boots aren't full of flashly looking mesh etc, but then those said "boots" don't last long anyways as scree destroys them in short order.

Wastral wrote:Looks like you need to seal your boots with SnoSeal etc. If your boots are absorbing tons of water, they aren't sealed. Yes, wax wears off and you get to reseal your boots quite often. Personally Gore-tex "lined" boots are worthless as the goretex neither keeps the boot dry nor waterproof. Especially when ones feet sweat. Its a marketing ploy as far as i am concerned. Look for boots without the Gore-tex. Cheaper, and just as waterproof if you bother to actually seal your boots like one should always do. Keeps the leather supple so the boot lasts longer. Assuming of course that your boots aren't full of flashly looking mesh etc, but then those said "boots" don't last long anyways as scree destroys them in short order.

Brian

+1 on the both snoseal and goretex.

If you snoseal your boots, then you can dry them over heat. The wax will keep the leather from drying out.

I love my Sportiva Makalu as a great all-around leather mountaineering boot. They work with everything including snowshoes and skis. I keep the leather water proofed and if I get them wet I use the newspaper technique. That was taught to me by my dad, an oldster from Maine. Loosely crumple the paper. Set in a warm house. Most boots today are made with lots of glue that releases when heated. Great for resoles. Best to keep them out of hot garages, hot cars, heat vents, and campfires.

Wastral wrote:Looks like you need to seal your boots with SnoSeal etc. If your boots are absorbing tons of water, they aren't sealed. Yes, wax wears off and you get to reseal your boots quite often. Personally Gore-tex "lined" boots are worthless as the goretex neither keeps the boot dry nor waterproof. Especially when ones feet sweat. Its a marketing ploy as far as i am concerned. Look for boots without the Gore-tex. Cheaper, and just as waterproof if you bother to actually seal your boots like one should always do. Keeps the leather supple so the boot lasts longer. Assuming of course that your boots aren't full of flashly looking mesh etc, but then those said "boots" don't last long anyways as scree destroys them in short order.

Brian

I agree with you on both points, but where are you finding high end mountaineering boots without Gore-Tex liners? My leather-lined Fabiano/Scarpa mounaineering boots served me well for a couple of decades but finally fell apart five years ago, and everything comparable I've been able to find since then was Gore-Tex lined. I'm sure the boots I have bought since then won't last nearly as long (though they are lighter!).

Of course if you need to dry wet boots overnight the traditional solution is to go for plastic doubles.

I wore my salomon Gore-Tex boots and was in knee deep snow for 4 hours plus and they didnt let a drop of snow in combined with a knee high gaiter. They arent leather boots, but have served me well for keeping my feet dry and comfortable.

I got my Nepals pretty wet from knee deep wet snow, and warm temps/sweaty feet this weekend.
I tried the paper trick, which helped, but LS recommends against it. I have had them at room temp since Sat. night and the inside of the tongue (portion above my toes to above my ankle) is still damp. As well as other small spots. I took the insoles out too. As a result of being wet for so long they have a bit of an odor now... more so than my other boots which have been sweated in/ gotten wet numerous times...
On the otherhand, i have a pair of scarpa synethics (charmoz) and they dry in just over a day w/o paper.